Agenda - 12-01-1998 - 9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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c; The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is the Federal Government's single largest environmenlat improvement program and one of its most productive and cost-efficient. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) through the Farm Service Agency (FSAI. Established in 1985, the CRP encourages farmers to voluntarily plant permanent areas of grass and Trees on land That needs protection from erosion, to act as windbreaks, or in places where vegetation can improve water quaky or provide food and habitat for wildlife. The farmers must enter into contracts with the CCC lasting between 10 and 16 years. In return, they receive annual rental payments, incentive payments for certain activities, and cost-share assistance to establish the protective vegetation. In previous years, a landowner had to appry to participate in CRP during announced sign-up periods. Since September 1996, however, owners have been able to sign up for the program any time during the year for certain high-priority conservation practices. Provided certain eligibility requirements are met, acreage is automatically accepted into the program at a per-acre rental rate not to exceed the CCC's maximum payment amount. Land owners and operators may t>e eligible to participate in the CRP. landowners must have owned the acreage for at least 1 year and operators must have leased the acreage for al least 1 year to be eligible. Land eligible for enrollment includes crop- land that is physically and legally capable of being cropped in a normal manner, and that has been planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity in any 2 years hom 7992 to 1996. The acreage must also be determined eligible and suitable lolany of the bllowing practices: Filler Strips Areas of grass, legumes, or other vegetation That litter runoff or waste water by trapping sediment, pesticides, organic matler, or other pollutants. Filter strips are established on cropland at the lower edge of a field or adja- cent 1o bodies of water. Riparian Butlers Areas of trees and/or shrubs, next to ponds. lakes, and streams that filler out pollutants from runoff, as well as providing shade for fish and other wildlife. The vegetation's natural litter also provides food and shelter for valuable wildlife. Riparian buffers are planted so that runoff must litter through them before it reaches a pond, lake. or stream. Buffers can also be placed next to wetlands, such as marshy or swampy areas. Shelter Belts, Field Windbreaks. and Living Snow Fences Belts of trees or shrubs planted in single or multiple rows. Such tree rows and hedges reduce wind erosion, protect growing plants, and provide habitat for wildlife. They can also shelter structures and livestock. Field wind- breaks protect fields Irom erosion, and snow fences help manage snow.